Each Independent Discovery Project begins with authentic English. Throughout the year, you'll explore literature, visual art, film, music, persuasive media, and research to discover how skilled communicators connect with others, share ideas, tell stories, express emotions, inspire action, and present with confidence.
Source types by unit
| Unit | Authentic sources | What it develops |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novels, memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, and other character-driven books | Literature develops perspective-taking and interpersonal communication. |
| 2 | Paintings, photographs, illustrations, and other works of visual art depicting a real or imagined place | Visual art develops careful observation, vivid description, and creative communication. |
| 3 | Feature films, documentaries, short films, television episodes, and other story-driven videos | Film develops narrative understanding and storytelling. |
| 4 | Songs, poems, and spoken-word works | Music and poetry develop emotional expression and word artistry. |
| 5 | Speeches, debates, TED Talks, opinion essays, editorials, podcasts, and other persuasive works | Persuasive media develops critical thinking and persuasive communication. |
| 6 | Books, scholarly articles, interviews, documentaries, reputable websites, podcasts, and other English-language research sources | Research develops informed, confident communication. |